Extension tool for aerosol dispensers



May 5, 1970 BATISTELLI EXTENSION TOOL FOR AEROSOL DISPENSERS Filed March10, 1969 INVENTOR. Mm o BAT/5 au BY/ZJZ/M United States Patent U.S. Cl.222-174 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A portable combined supportand control for a pressurized container of the aerosol type in which thesupport forms a handle and carries an actuator for the valve of thecontainer so arranged that gripping the handle and actuator will releasethe valve. Means are provided to quickly and readily attach an extensionpole handle with means on the pole handle for also controlling the valveactuator.

This is a continuation-in-part of my copending patent application Ser.No. 699,122, filed Ian. 19, 1968.

This invention relates to supports for supporting pressurized containersof the aerosol type for cleaning walls, etc., and for applying paint,insecticides, etc., to remote locations.

Pressurized containers of the aerosol type are commonly used forapplying sprays of various kinds and extension pole handles have beenused heretofore for extending the reach of such containers and forremotely controlling the same. Such eXtension handles work satisfactorily. However, it is often desirable to dispense with such a polehandle in the event the area to be sprayed is within ones reach. Atother times it may be desirable to use pole handles of different lengthsso as to reach areas not normally accessible. Prior pole handles ofwhich I am aware do not lend themselves to quick and easy removal orreplacement of pole handles or extensions of different lengths. Also,such prior handles utilize cords for operating valve release devices andsuch cords are partly or wholly outside the pole handle which not onlyrenders the assembly unsightly but the cord tends to catch onprojections and cause unwanted release of the valve.

Therefore, a principal object of the present invention is to provide apole handle extension device of the foregoing type which may be quicklyand easily removed or replaced by other pole handles or differentlengths.

Another object is to provide a pole handle extension of the above typein which the controls are mainly contained within the pole handle.

Another object is to provide a pole handle of the above type with meansfor quickly and rapidly adjusting the controls for pole handles ofdifferent lengths.

Another object is to provide a pole handle extension device of the abovetype which is economical to manufacture and easy to assemble anddisassemble.

The manner in which the above and other objects of the invention areaccomplished will be readily understood on reference to the followingspecification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an aerosol container holder and pole handleembodying a preferred form of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the holder.

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view taken substantially along the line 3-3of FIG. 7.

FIG. 4 is a sectional plan view of the actuator arm lock and is takenalong line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional plan view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

3,510,028 Patented May 5, 1970 "ice FIG. 6 is a transverse sectionalview of the adjustable (gilgl'lng and is taken substantially along line66 of FIG. 7 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view, with partsbroken away, of the pole handle.

FIG. 8 is a detail view of part of the control chain.

The holder or support, generally indicated at 11, is preferably formedof plastic and has an opening at its forward side (as viewed in FIG. 2)which closely conforms to the outer contour of a pressurized aerosolcontainer 12 of conventional form so that the container can be readilyslipped into place in a properly oriented position only. The holder isformed into three substantially semicircular arms 13, 14 and 15 whichfrictionally grip the sides of the container to retain the same in placeand yet permit ready removal thereof. A rearwardly extending U-shapehandle 16 is formed integral at its lower end with the arm 15 and at itsupper end with an arch element 17 which, in turn, is formed integralwith the upper semicircular arm .13. The arch element 17 extendsdownward on opposite sides to form a guard.

An actuating arm 18 is pivoted on the handle 16 at 19 and comprises aforward extension 20 which overlies the valve member 21 of the aerosolcontainer. A downward extension 22 of the actuating arm extends directlyin front of a part of the handle 16 so that when the handle is graspedand the extension 22 squeezed thereagainst, the arm will be rockedslightly counterclockwise to actuate the valve member 21 to releasefluid from the container in the form of a spray from an orifice 23formed in the valve member.

A safety" lock is provided to block the arm 18 against operation. Suchdevice comprises a button 24 slideably mounted in a bearing 25 formed inthe handle 16. The button is provided with an enlarged head 26 normallylocated out of the path of the arm 18. However, when the head 26 of thebutton is pressed inward, it will locate in blocking relation with thearm 18 to block it against movement. It will be noted that the arm isbeveled at 27, permitting the button to cam the arm fully into itsinoperative position in the event it is not already in such positionwhen the button is pressed inward.

The support 11 is adapted to be quickly mounted at the upper end of apole handle generally indicated at 30 and to be quickly removedtherefrom. For this purpose, socket members 31 and 32 are formedintegral with the support 11 to receive the pole handle. A tongue 29extending inwardly from the socket member 31engages in a slot 33 formedin a tubular pole 34 forming part of the pole handle to properly orientthe tube and prevent relative rotation between the same and the support.

A plug member 35, preferably of plastic, is fitted within the pole 34 atits upper end and is provided with a tongue 36 fitted within acorresponding slot in the pole 34.

A second plug 37, also preferably of plastic, is fitted within the lowerend of the pole 34 and has a slot 38 therein to receive a control arm 40(see also FIG. 3). A pin 41 extends through the arm 40 and the plug topivotally support the arm. A tongue 42 on the plug 37 is fitted in aslot in the pole 34 to prevent relative turning. The arm 40 extendsthrough a slot 43 in an extension tube 44 which is frictionally fittedover pole 34 and is held in place by a slightly tapered plastic retainerbushing 45 fitted over the upper end of the tubing 44.

A chain device generally indicated at 46 is provided to control theactuating arm 18 from the control arm 40. Such chain is preferablyformed of plastic and comprises an upper section 47 slideable endwise ina counter opening 48 in the plug 33. A flange 51 integral with thesection 47 has a plurality of thin flexible fingers 60 depend- 3 ngtherefrom and engaging a bottom shoulder 57 formed n the plugs. The plugis preferably formed in two halves which are suitably cemented together.A T-shaped head 50 extends upwardly from chain section 47 and the chain:lement 51 (see also FIG. 8) extends downwardly therefrom. The lattercontains a series of spaced balls 52 in- .egral with the chain forattachment to the control handle #0. For this purpose, the lower end ofthe chain is guided :hrough a cross-slot 53 in the plug 37 and extendsthrough a slot 54 in the side of the arm 40. A lower ball 52 is 'eceivedin a cavity 55 in the handle, forming a connec- ;ion with the chain.Normally, the chain is held in its lpper position shown in FIG. 7, bythe spring fingers 60.

A coupling device is provided for quickly connecting he T-member 50 ofthe chain to the actuating arm 18. inch coupling device comprises aneccentric 58 formed f two inwardly flanged eccentric members 160 (seealso FIG. 6) rotatably mounted in a bearing 61 formed in the trm 18 andsuitably secured together, as by adhesive. Kligned slots 62 are formedin the eccentric members so hat when the eccentric is rotated tovertically position he slots, they may readily receive the T-member 50.thereafter, upon rotation of the eccentric, flanges 63 hereon willengage the cross-head 59 of the T-member take up any clearancetherebetween and thus adjust or any change in length of the chainmember. Accordngly, upon gripping both the pole handle and the controltrm 40, the chain 51 will be pulled downward against he action of springfingers 60 to actuate the arm 18 to lause the valve 21 to release thefluid from the container. Thus, the fingers 60 will buckle, but willstraighten when DI'CSSHI'B on control arm 40 is released.

Pole handles of different lengths may be used or the ole 34 may beshortened as desired while using the same :hain device. In this case, adiflerent ball 52 would be itted within the cavity 55 and any extralength of chain nay be allowed to extend downwardly in the extension 44.

A post 158 is formed integral with the support 11 for tttachment ofsuitable tools, such as a sponge (not hown).

I claim:

1. A holder and control device for a pressurized conainer having a valveat one end thereof adapted to conrol discharge of fluid from saidcontainer, comprising:

a support member forming a handle,

means on said member for releasably supporting said container,

an actuating arm carried by said member and having a portion adapted tooverlie said valve,

said actuating arm having an extension located adjacent said handlewhereby gripping of said handle and said extension together will causesaid actuating arm to release said valve,

a pole handle,

means for releasably connecting said pole handle to said member,

an actuating member on said pole handle, and

means extending between said actuating member and said actuating armwhereby movement of said actuating member is adapted to cause saidactuating arm to release said valve.

2. A holder and control device according to claim 1 vherein said lastmentioned means comprises an elongate lexible member and a releasablecoupling device intermediate said elongate member and said actuatingarm.

3. A holder'and control device according to claim 1 wherein said lastmentioned means comprises a slide member movable lengthwise of said polehandle, a releaseable coupling device intermediate said slide member andsaid actuating arm, and

an elongate flexible member intermediate said slide member and saidactuating member.

4. A holder and control device according to claim 2 comprising springmeans intermediate said elongate member and said pole handle fornormally holding said flexible member in inoperative position.

5. A holder and control device according to claim 2 wherein saidcoupling device comprises means for adjusting the point of connectionbetween said elongate member and said actuating arm.

6. A holder and control device according to claim 2 wherein saidelongate member has a plurality of spaced projections therealong, andmeans for coupling said actuating member to any of said projections.

7. A holder and control device according to claim 1 wherein said supportmember is shaped to receive said pressurized container in one relativeposition only.

8. A holder and control device for a pressurized container having avalve at one end thereof adapted to control discharge of fluid from saidcontainer, comprising:

a support member,

means on said member for releasably securing said container to saidmember,

an actuating arm carried by said member for releasing said valve,

hollow pole handles of different lengths,

means for releasably connecting a selected one to said pole handles tosaid member,

an actuating member on said selecter pole handle,

connecting means comprising a slide member in said pole handle movablelengthwise of said pole handle,

an elongate flexible member in said pole handle intermediate said slidemember and said actuating member, and

a plurality of spaced coupling elements on said flexible member,

a device for releasably connecting said actuating member to anappropriate one of said coupling elements whereby movement of saidactuating member is adapted to cause said actuating arm to release saidvalve, and

means for releasably connecting said slide member to said actuating arm,

said releasable connecting means comprising an eccentric rotatablysupported by said actuating arm and engageable with said slide memberwhereby rotation of said eccentric adjusts the elfective length of saidconnecting means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,720,422 10/1955 Mercur 222-1743,229,859 1/1966 Conroy et a1. 222174 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary ExaminerH. S. LANE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

